NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO REDUCE POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN TANZANIA
We are 15
Action/2015Tanzania is honored to be part of the population that still lives in 2015, we are grateful to the Giver and God Almighty. Action/2015 is a global growing citizen’s movement of hundreds of organizations, coalitions and partnerships from around the world that want to see concrete action and ambitious agreements to tackle the root causes of inequality, injustice, poverty, and climate change in 2015. Action/2015Tanzania believes that the year 2015 can be a pivotal year to change the future of our people and our planet. 2015 is a year during which important decisions will be made whereby at the United Nations (UN) two summits that can change the course of history. In September 2015, a UN summit that will agree new development goals – a new framework for humanity - to tackle poverty, inequality and environmental destruction will be held. The other, in December 2015 is to set new climate action targets, a crucial step towards a safer planet. The year 2015 is a year of opportunity to secure a more secure and sustainable future for Tanzanians, other people in the world and the planet Earth. The September 2015 UN summit in New York will come up with commitments that could achieve huge targets, including:
An end to extreme poverty by 2030 that condemns millions of people, especially women and children, to an early death, poor education and ill health.
A turning point in the soaring levels of inequality and discrimination driven by economic policies, corruption and mismanagement that deliver for the few rather than the many.
An accelerated transition to 100% renewable energy so that a safe climate and sustainable economy - with all its benefits for people of Tanzania and planet - is possible. At national level, Action/2015 campaign believes that two events and three key areas to tackle poverty, inequality and the effects of climate change are most pertinent. The events are the national referendum for a new/proposed constitution and the general elections (parliamentary and presidential elections). Although a date is yet to be announced for the referendum, the general elections are due in October 2015. As a country, Tanzania has signed up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The First MDG commits Tanzania to reduce poverty between 1990 and 2015 by 50%. In 1991/92 poverty was 38% in Tanzania, while the objective was to reduce poverty to 19% by 2015 (Policy Forum, 20111). The government in its assessment of the implementation of the Five Year Development Plan (URT, 20132) says that the country has maintained an average 6.8 GDP growths, however according Poverty and human Development Report (PHDR 2012) shows that only 3% of poverty reduction has been achieved. The Five Year Development Plan FYDP1 assessment report also shows the country is more than 60% off-track in 1 2
Growth in Tanzania, is it reducing poverty? - Twaweza.org FYDP (1) MID-TERM REVIEW REPORT 2013
New Year's Message to the General Public
Page 1 of 3
Action/2015 Tanzania Campaign is currently made up of the following Tanzanian CSOs: TANGO, TACOSODE, TYC, SAHRiNGON, CODA-TZ, TAI, UNIC, Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots, World Vision Tanzania, YUNA, Restless Development, ICISO, ULINGO, KIUNGO, UNGO, NGONEDO, SIRUNGONET, RANGO, MBENGONeT, NJORENGO, Actions for Democracy and Local Governance, HOPE Foundation and PFCO. Other CSOs are welcome to join and membership is also open to individuals and businesses with like-minded objectives.
achieving the target of "175 per live births" maternal mortality rate from the base year (2010) when the (FYDP1) plan was first implemented. Unemployment incidence among the youth in Tanzania is relatively high. The National Bureau of Statistics estimates that the youth constitute 60 per cent of all people who are unemployed (NBS, 2011). This should be alarming for both economists and the government as high unemployment stifles future economic growth and it is a potential source of social unrest and political violence. Further, Tanzania loses Sh8.35 trillion every year when adolescent girls, mostly from poor rural communities, drop out of school and get married, according to a new report. Motherhood in Childhood: Facing The Challenge of Adolescent Pregnancy (United Nations Population Fund’s State of the World Population, 20133) reports that 18 per cent of girls aged 15 to 19 marry every year. With a GDP of TShs 46 trillion, this works out to TShs 8.35 trillion (equivalent to 45% of Tanzania's national annual budget) in yearly earnings over their lifetime that is foregone due to early pregnancy. Add the above stated facts to the recent financial and governance scandals (2010 through 2014 including Richmond, EPA and Tegeta Escrow) where billions of Tanzanian shillings were lost or stolen through corruption and mismanagement, it is clear that Action/2015Tanzania is one of the necessary Tanzanian civic movements and watchdogs in the year 2015 and beyond to remind our leaders and development partners of their obligations to deliver on the commitments made, accelerate delivery of social services and ensure poverty, inequalities and effects of climate change in Tanzania are duly addressed. Action/2015Tanzania campaign therefore calls for the Tanzanian government and development partners to address three key areas in that endeavour, namely poor maternal health services, rising youth un-employment and teenage pregnancies. Specifically to the Tanzanian government, we call upon the strengthening of oversight institution to ensure good governance and that leaders strictly follow ethical conduct for the mandate given by the citizens to lead them. Action/2015Tanzania campaign requests you and others to join the movement and be part of the Tanzanian residents and friends of the people of Tanzania that call for accelerated delivery of services by the government and development partners.
__________________________ Statement signed by Finland Bernard on behalf of the Action/2015Tanzania Dar es Salaam, 1st January 2015 +255 76 921 1311 finlandbernard@yahoo.com | f.bernard@tango.or.tz
3
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/8-trillion-reasons-teens-shouldn-t-get-pregnant/-/1840392/2057044/-/nvknrr//index.html
New Year's Message to the General Public
Page 2 of 3
Action/2015 Tanzania Campaign is currently made up of the following Tanzanian CSOs: TANGO, TACOSODE, TYC, SAHRiNGON, CODA-TZ, TAI, UNIC, Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots, World Vision Tanzania, YUNA, Restless Development, ICISO, ULINGO, KIUNGO, UNGO, NGONEDO, SIRUNGONET, RANGO, MBENGONeT, NJORENGO, Actions for Democracy and Local Governance, HOPE Foundation and PFCO. Other CSOs are welcome to join and membership is also open to individuals and businesses with like-minded objectives.